Dipankara Buddha
c. 1600–1650
Asia: Nepal
Gilt and enameled copper with semiprecious stones and pigments
Norton Simon Art Foundation
Dipankara, one of numerous Buddhas of the past, is said to have predicted the coming of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni. According to legend, a rich Brahmin named Sumati saw that Dipankara was about to walk into a puddle of water. In order to prevent him from soiling his feet, Sumati laid his long hair across the puddle; following this event, Dipankara prophesized Sumati’s rebirth as the future Buddha. Images of Dipankara in Nepal are worshipped as icons bestowing charity and protecting merchants. In this copper figure, Dipankara offers a gesture of charity (varamudra) with his left hand and a gesture of protection (abhayamudra) with his right. His richly decorated monk’s robe, crown and jewelry further illustrate Dipankara’s role as an icon of charity.
Ready for Their Close-Ups: Photographing the Collection
What are the challenges in photographing works of art? In her 2025 article “Ready for Their Close-Ups: Photographing the Collection,” Rights and Reproductions Coordinator Kate Austin describes the process of setting up and posing objects, changing image quality standards, and how those images are used by the public and our staff. Austin highlights the Dipankara Buddha, comparing its existing image file, scanned from a transparency dating to 2002, with an image file from 2023, shot in preparation for the exhibition Benevolent Beings: Buddhas and Bodhisattvas from South and Southeast Asia (2023–24). The Dipankara Buddha was shot against a black background, similar to the original transparency, but with more uniform lighting and focus. This composition provided an accurate, yet dramatic image that could be used to more effectively promote the exhibition.
